Dujon Sterling Set to Miss Falkirk Trip as Rangers' New Signings Eye Opportunity
Dujon Sterling has been tipped to miss Rangers’ trip to Falkirk, with former Ibrox forward Greg Stewart predicting the defender will be left out on the artificial surface.
Rangers head into the tie with a squad that looks very different to last season. Derek McInnes has options everywhere now, and the fight for places is already sharp as the new campaign begins to take shape.
Two of the players eyeing this fixture as a springboard are Ross McCrorie and Kosta Nedeljkovic. Both arrived in the summer. Both need minutes. Falkirk away, on a tricky pitch and in a pressurised cup-type atmosphere, is exactly the sort of game that can change a manager’s thinking.
Stewart sounds warning over astro test
Speaking alongside Ian Durrant on the 5 Stars Podcast, Stewart homed in on one thing above all else – the surface.
“Astro turf as well, it always comes into play. So, it'll be interesting to see how the new boys, that are not used to it, take to it,” he said. “I don't think Sterling will play well because of that.”
It was a blunt assessment and one that instantly throws extra intrigue on McInnes’ team sheet. If Sterling is indeed held back, there are others ready to pounce on the chance.
McCrorie, back at Rangers after a spell away, offers Premiership know-how and the kind of versatility managers love. So far, though, his limited minutes have been underwhelming. He needs a performance, something that reminds the support why he was brought back into the building.
Nedeljkovic, on loan from Aston Villa, is the other obvious candidate. Still settling, still learning the rhythm of Scottish football, but clearly trusted enough to be in the conversation as McInnes shapes his defensive combinations.
A start at Falkirk would be more than just a token outing. It would be a live audition for a regular role.
Depth grows, decisions tighten
Rangers’ summer business has loaded the squad with depth, particularly in defensive areas. That brings a different kind of pressure. Every selection now feels like a statement.
Leave Sterling out and McInnes hands someone else a genuine opening. Pick him and he backs his mainstay to cope with the surface Stewart is so wary of.
Durrant, though, expects the manager to resist ripping things up after a strong recent display.
“I don't think he'll tinker too much, I think. After that result and how well they played, and how well they battled,” he said.
“They all like to play a brand of football, which I think will suit Rangers. They always like to be on the front foot, they knock it about.
“I'm sure Rangers now, if they're on their A game, they can pick them off.”
The message is clear: fine-tune, don’t overhaul.
Falkirk’s pitch adds another twist
Falkirk’s artificial pitch remains a rare quirk in the Premiership. The club were granted a grace period to replace the surface after promotion the season before last, and they now stand alone in the top flight with an astro pitch.
Kilmarnock have gone back to grass. Livingston dropped out of the division. Falkirk’s turf is now the outlier everyone talks about before a ball is kicked.
For Rangers’ newer faces, it’s an early examination. How quickly can they adapt? How cleanly can they move the ball on a surface that can punish heavy touches and hesitant defending?
If Stewart is right and Sterling sits this one out, the stage opens up for McCrorie or Nedeljkovic. One game, one decision, and the pecking order in McInnes’ new-look Rangers back line could shift in an instant.
